Fastening device for belts



Oct. 2, 1951 w L N 2,569,750

FASTENING DEVICE FOR BELTS Filed June 21, 1949 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 FASTENING DEVICE FOR BELTS William J. Dillenz, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 21, 1949, Serial No. 100,470

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening devices and more particularly to an improved belt buckle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fastener which is simple in operation, cheap to construct, and which is adapted for fabrication from a wide variety of material, and for use with a wide variety of products.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener for bands, straps and the like which is positively locked by means of a transversely actuated wedge.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a locking device having a crimping action with respect to a belt passing between the edges of the apertured sleeve and a wedge slidably mounted therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel belt buckle in which the fastening construction lends itself to the enhancement of the article.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective showing my improved fastener as applied to a belt; I Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the locking wedge;

' Figure 3 is a top view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective showing the rear of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the structure of Figure 1;

. Figure 6 is a transverse section as seen at 'B6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front elevation similar to Figure 5, but showing the fastener in an unlocked position;

Figure 8 is a transverse section of Figure '7 as seen at 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section as seen at 99 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a perspective showing a modified form of fastener;

Figure 11 is a perspective showing the rear of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a section as seen at |2-|2 of Figure 10.

The invention comprises essentially the provision of a hollow sleeve substantially rectangular in cross section and having an aperture extending across one face of the sleeve. A captive locking element having a wedge-shaped face is adapted to slide transversely of the sleeve so that in the unlocked position the wedge face of the locking element is removed from the bore of the sleeve in order to permit insertion of a strap or belt. When the strap is properly positioned in the hollow sleeve, the locking element may be forced into the sleeve so that the wedge face of the element jams the strap. securely in the bore of the sleeve and in effect crimps it over the edges of the aperture. 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a hollow sleeve or buckle frame It: is provided with an aperture |fi cut centrally in its front face |5a and in the preferred form extending partially over the topi517 of sleeve IS. The sides of aperture l5 are biased with respect to each other for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. The rear face ll of the sleeve I5 is provided with a transverse slot l8 and also with an eye l9 to which one end of the belt 2|) is attached.

The fastening or locking element 2| in the preferred form comprises a tapered wedge-shaped partion 2 la to which is secured a button 22 which serves to retain the locking element 2| in the sleeve I5, said portion am having an outwardly extending projection 22a, which serves to guide said locking element 2| in vertical sliding movement by means of slot H3. The locking element 2| extends horizontally as seen in Figures 1 and 2 to provide a top 23 which is substantially coextensive with the portion of aperture IS in top |5b of the sleeve. The front or face of the locking device 2| extends downwardly in a flange 24 which likewise has biased edges corresponding generally with the edges of the aperture IS in the front face |5a of the sleeve. Face 24 of the element is adapted to carry any suitable design such as an initial 25.

When the locking element 2| is raised in the sleeve so that button 22 is adjacent the top of slot I8, the belt or strap 20 may be readily in serted through the bore of sleeve 5 as shown in Figures 4 and 7. When belt 20 has been pulled through sleeve It to the desired position, downward pressure on the locking element 2| serves to securely crimp or wedge the strap 20 in the bore of sleeve I5. This crimping action is materially enhanced by the edges of aperture |6 as shown in Figure 9, so that the strap 20 is effectively clamped between the edges of wedge 2|a and the edges of aperture 6. The biased position of these edges with respect to each other facilitates this crimping action and prevents the fastener 2| from becoming disengaged accidentally.

Referring now to Figures 10-12, sleeve I5 is provided with a biased aperture 40 in much the same manner as shown in conjunction with FiguIes 1-9. The sleeve I5 is extended to provide a suitable eye 4| to which the belt section 2i] may be attached. The rear of sleeve I5 is, however, provided with two parallel slots 42 and 43 in which the ears 44 and 45 of locking element 46 may slide. The wedge-type locking action described previously with fastener 2| is substantially duplicated by means of the shape of element 46 which has an outwardly convex bulge 46a which faces the bore of sleeve l5 that serves to force the corresponding portion of belt '20 into ent means for manipulating said element 46 tolock and unlock the strap.

I have thus described an efiicient, inexpensive strap fastener which is especially adapted for belt buckles that securely locks the strap or belt in place. not only facilitates the actuation of the locking element; but'assists in retaininga secure grip-on the belt or strap.

. Haring? thus described my' invention, 1' claim:

It. A fastener for: straps, belts and the like cnmpri'singa rigid tubular sleeve member having spaced parallel front and rear wall portions interconnected by sidewall portions, said front wallzhaving an opening therein extendingtransverselyof' said front Wall continuously'into one of said side wall: portions, a locking element slid.- able transversely inwardly of said sleeve and including a wedge portion movable adjacent: the sleeve rear wall in spaced confronting. relation tothe. front wall opening, said member rear wall having aztransverse: opening therein, and rearwardly'projecting means on said locking element slidably engaged in said rear wall opening to mount and' guide said locking element with respect to said sleeve member.

7 '2'. A fastener for straps, belts and the like comprising apri'gid tubular sleevemember having spacedparallel front and rear wall portions in terconnectedby side-wall portions, said front wall having an opening therein extending transversely of said front wall continuously into one at. said sidewall portions, a locking element slidable'transversely inwardly ofsaid sleeve and including a wedge portion movable adjacent the sleeve; rear wall in spaced confronting relation to the front wall opening, and a forwardly projecting head portion on the locking element arranged in the inner position thereof toreside in the: portion of. the opening in said one side wall of: the sleeve flush with the surface thereof.

3'. A fastener for straps, belts and the like comprising a rigid tubular sleeve member having spaced parallel front. and rear wall portions interconnected by side wall portions, said front wall having an opening therein extending transversely of. said front wall continuously into one of said side Wall portions, a locking element slidable transversely inwardly of said sleeve and. including a wedge portion movable adjacent the sleeverear wall in spaced confronting relation to the frontjwall opening, a forwardly projecting head portion on the locking element arranged in the inner position thereof'to reside in the portion of the opening in said one side wall of the sleeve flush with the surface thereof, said member rear wall having a transverse opening therein, and projecting means on said locking element slidably engaged in said rear wall opening to mount and guide said locking element with respect to said sleeve member.

41. A fastener for straps, belts and the like comprising a rigid tubular'sleeve member having spaced parallel front and rear wall portions interconnected by side wall portions, said front wall. having an opening therein extending trans- The biased slant of the locking edgesable transversely inwardly of said sleeve and inof to reside in the portion of the opening in said one side wall of the sleeve, and a portion dependent from the said top portion of the locking element and spaced from said wedge portion arranged in the inner position of the element to reside. in the front wall opening of the sleeve.

5. A fastener for straps, belts and the like comprising a rigid tubular sleeve member having spaced parallel front and rear wall portions interconnected by side wall portions, said. front wall having; an opening therein extending transversely of said front wall continuously into one of. said side wallportions, a. locking element slidable transverselyinwardly of said sleeve andincluding a wedge portion movable adjacent the sleeve rear wall in confronting relation to the front wall opening, ahead portion on the looking element arranged in the inner position thereof toreside in the portion of the opening. in said one side Wall of the sleeve, a portion dependentfrom the-said top portion of the locking element and spaced, from said wedge portion arranged inthe inner position of the element to reside in the front wall opening of the sleeve, said member rear Wall having a transverse opening therein, and means on said locking element slidably engaged in said rear wall opening-to mount and guidesaid locking element with respect to said sleeve member. a

6. A. fastener for straps, belts and the. like comprising a rigid relatively flat tubular sleeve member having spaced parallel front and. rear wall portions of substantial transverse width in.- terconnected by relatively narrow side wallportions, said front wall having a generally V-shaped opening therein extending; transversely of. said 'front wall and continuing into one of said. side wallportions, a. locking element slidable transversely inwardly of said. sleeve and. including a wedge, portionmovable adjacent. the sleeve rear wall in confronting relation to the front wall opening, a head portion on the locking element arranged in the inner position thereof to reside in the portion of the opening in said one side wall of the sleeve, a, portion dependent from the said'top portion of the locking element and spaced from said wedge portion arranged in'the inner position of the element to reside in the front'wall opening of the sleeve, said member rearwall having at least one elongated transverse slot therein, and means on said locking element wedge portion engaged in said rear wall slot'to slidably mount and guide said locking element with respect. to said sleeve member;

WILLIAM J. DILLENZ;

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166,022 Mihills July 27,1875 189,442 Fales Apr. 10, 1877 1,471,034 Jordan Oct. 16, 1923 1,693,240 Lampert Nov. 27, 1928 2,459,020 Dillenz Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 331,094; Great-Britain June-26; 1930 

